Public Trust in Vaccines

Vaccines represent a significant scientific triumph and remain a powerful tool for
preventive childhood health. As the communal health benefits of vaccination rely
upon high rates of immunization coverage, lapses in coverage caused by lack of acceptance
can have severe consequences for society. The erosion of public trust in vaccines
reduces the effectiveness of vaccination
programs and presents potentially severe public health consequences for communities
worldwide.

In order to craft evidence-based communication strategies that will improve public understanding of vaccines, this Academy initiative is examining what research is needed to better understand how public perceptions of childhood vaccines are formed. This work is being undertaken by a multidisciplinary committee of experts drawn from medicine, behavioral science, communications, science history, and journalism.

In the News

Featured Publication

New Academy Report calls for Research on Parental Decision-Making regarding Childhood Vaccines

Based on a September 2013 American Academy workshop, “Public Trust in Vaccines: Defining a Research Agenda” delineates the types of research that would yield insights to inform evidence-based strategies for effective communication about childhood vaccination.